The legal definition of ?wrongful death? is death caused by the negligence of another party. Some examples of wrongful or negligent conduct that may result to wrongful death are building unstable structures, drunk driving, and failure to put warning signs in dangerous areas, among others.
How serious is the problem?
In 2005, there were about 3,582 drowning-related fatalities. On the average, there were ten deaths per day. A lot of these are children. According to statistics by the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), of all the children who died with their ages between 1 to 4 years old, 30% of them died because of drowning.
How to maintain a safe pool area?
If you own or manage a pool, there are things that you can do to make the place safer for visitors. Here are a few of the factors that may make pools unsafe:
?Missing or damaged drain covers ? people, especially children, are susceptible to drowning when caught by the suction produced by open drains
?Damaged fence around the pool ? proper fencing is necessary to keep out unsupervised children.
?Missing or wrong depth markers ? inaccurately marked depth markers is a drowning hazard, especially for new swimmers. Divers can sustain serious, life-threatening injuries when diving into an area that is shallower than they expected.
?Cloudy water ? pools that have cloudy water will make it difficult for swimmers to see the bottom. It will also hinder people from finding a drowning child quickly
Prevention is always better
We all know that accidents happen no matter how careful we are. It helps to do whatever you can to keep your children safe in pools. Here are a few things you can think about to be more proactive about safety:
?Make sure that your children take swimming lessons from qualified instructors
?Never, ever allow your children to play or swim alone without adult supervision. Children must not be left alone even for a few minutes because accidents happen quicker than we know, and contrary to what most people believe, children do not always make a sound when they drown
?Do not allow children to swim in places where there are boats. Little children should not be allowed to swim at beaches where the waves are large. Explain to children that there are differences when swimming in different bodies of water. Make sure they know what to expect when they are in pools, and when they are in beaches
?Do not allow children to dive unless the area is properly inspected and you are sure that it is safe for diving
?Completely remove the pool cover (if any) before allowing your children to swim. Children may try to walk on it or swim underneath it and they might be trapped
?As much as possible, keep a phone near the pool area for emergency purposes; Make sure also that the emergency numbers are clearly marked on the phone
If you think that negligence has factored into a drowning accident, consult with wrongful death Lawyers in Los Angeles to know what options you have in pursuing a case.
